Batteries: Clinical Use and Principles of Operation

Abstract:

While not a medical device in itself, the battery, like the generator, is often the source of problems in developing world hospital equipment. The battery comes in a wide variety of forms and can be used to provide electrical energy and portability to all types of clinical devices, from surgical lighting to high drain clinical devices (e.g., x-ray machine). The underlying purpose of the battery remains the same, to simply convert stored chemical energy into electrical energy which can be readily used by a given device.